Anemone plant named ‘IFANFRAP’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Anemone  plant named ‘IFANFRAP’, characterized by its upright and uniform plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; long flowering period; large semi-double flowers that are white in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Anemone hupehensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘IFANFRAP’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY APPLICANT

An European Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant on Nov. 22, 2022, application number 2022/2619. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Anemone, botanically known as Anemone hupehensis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘IFANFRAP’.

The new Anemone plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous and fast-growing Anemone plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Anemone plant originated from an open-pollination in July, 2017 in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands of Anemone hupehensis ‘IFANSA’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,802, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown proprietary selection of Anemone hupehensis as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Anemone plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands in August, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Anemone by in vitro meristem culture in a controlled environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands since April, 2019 has shown that the unique features of this new Anemone plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Anemone have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and various cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘IFANFRAP’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘IFANFRAP’ as a new and distinct Anemone plant:

-   -   1. Upright and uniform plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Large semi-double flowers that are white in color.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Anemone can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘IFANSA’. Plants of the new Anemone differ primarily from plants of ‘IFANSA’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Anemone are not as compact as plants of         ‘IFANSA’.     -   2. Plants of the new Anemone are more vigorous than plants of         ‘IFANSA’.

Plants of the new Anemone can be compared to plants of Anemone hupehensis ‘Frilly Knickers’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Anemone and ‘Frilly Knickers’ differ primarily in plant habit as plants of the new Anemone are more compact than plants of ‘Frilly Knickers’.

Plants of the new Anemone can also be compared to plants of Anemone hupehensis ‘Dreaming Swan’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Anemone and ‘Dreaming Swan’ differ primarily in plant habit as plants of the new Anemone are more compact and shorter than plants of ‘Dreaming Swan’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Anemone plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Anemone plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘IFANFRAP’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘IFANFRAP’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet (FIG. 3 ) is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘IFANFRAP’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late summer/early autumn in 17-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Anemone production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 8° C. to 18° C. Plants were 16 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Anemone hupehensis ‘IFANFRAP’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Anemone hupehensis ‘IFANSA’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,802.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Anemone             hupehensis, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro meristem culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 15 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 42 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 50 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Thin, fibrous; typically light brown in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright and             uniform plant habit with basal stems and leaves developing             in basal rosettes; numerous basal rosettes developing per             plant; plants ovate in overall shape; moderately vigorous to             vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 35.4             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 49.8             cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 33.3 cm. -   Branch description:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 14.         -   Length.—About 26.1 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 17.9 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright to about 5° from vertical.         -   Texture and luster.—Sparsely to moderately pubescent;             moderately glossy.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 144A; surfaces exposed to full             sun, variably tinged with close to N186C.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 148A; proximally, close to 144A;             surfaces exposed to full sun, variably tinged with close to             200B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement, basal leaves.—Alternate; compound.         -   Arrangement, cauline leaves.—Opposite; simple or compound.         -   Length, basal leaves.—About 8.8 cm.         -   Width, basal leaves.—About 7 cm.         -   Length, cauline leaves.—About 7.6 cm.         -   Width, cauline leaves.—About 6.1 cm.         -   Length, basal and cauline leaflets.—Terminal leaflets, about             7.3 cm and lateral leaflets, about 5.1 cm.         -   Width, basal and cauline leaflets.—Terminal leaflets, about             6.1 cm and lateral leaflets, about 3.1 cm.         -   Shape, basal and cauline leaves.—Palmately three-lobed to             trifoliate; lobed to cleft, depth of sinuses are medium to             deep and convergent; in overall outline, leaves are broadly             ovate; slightly carinate and slightly reflexed.         -   Shape, basal and cauline leaflets.—Ovate to elliptic.         -   Apex, basal and cauline leaflets.—Acute.         -   Base, basal and cauline leaflets.—Truncate to hastate or             obtuse.         -   Margin, basal and cauline leaflets.—Biserrate.         -   Texture and luster, basal and cauline leaflets, upper             surface.—Sparsely pubescent; slightly rugose; slightly             glossy.         -   Texture and luster, basal and cauline leaflets, lower             surface.—Moderately pubescent; slightly rugose; matte.         -   Venation pattern, basal and cauline leaflets.—Laciniate.         -   Color, basal and cauline leaflets.—Developing leaflets,             upper surface: Close to 144B. Developing leaflets, lower             surface: Close to 146D. Fully expanded leaflets, upper             surface: Close to NN137A; venation, close to N144A; in the             autumn, close to between 187A and 200B. Fully expanded             leaflets, lower surface: Close to between 191A and 191B;             venation, close to N144A; in the autumn, close to between             N148C and 195A.         -   Leaf petioles.—Length, basal leaves: About 9 cm. Diameter,             basal leaves: About 1.5 mm. Length, cauline leaves: About             3 cm. Diameter, cauline leaves: About 1.5 mm. Strength,             basal and cauline leaves: Strong. Texture and luster, basal             and cauline leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately to             densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, basal and cauline             leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, basal and             cauline leaves, lower surface: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Semi-double type             rotate flowers arranged in terminal compound cymes; freely             flowering habit with nine flowers per inflorescence and             about 125 flowers developing per plant during the flowering             season; flowers face upright to slanting outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Anemone flower             during the late summer into the autumn in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 25.2 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 16.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 7.1 cm.         -   Flower length (depth).—About 3.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm.             Shape: Roughly spherical. Texture and luster: Slightly             pubescent; matte. Color: Close to between N186C and 187A;             proximally, close to 144C.         -   Petals.—Absent.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five, occasionally             six, arranged in two whorls. Length, lower whorl: About             1.8 cm. Length, upper whorl: About 3 cm. Width, lower whorl:             About 1.25 cm. Width, upper whorl: About 1.45 cm. Shape,             lower whorl: Broadly ovate to broadly elliptic; moderately             concave. Shape, upper whorl: Elliptic to obovate; slightly             concave. Apex, lower and upper whorls: Bluntly acute to             obtuse. Base, lower and upper whorls: Cuneate. Margin, lower             and upper whorls: Entire; not undulate to slightly undulate.             Texture and luster, upper and lower whorls, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; not rugose; slightly             glossy. Texture and luster, upper and lower whorls, lower             surface: Densely pubescent; not rugose; slightly glossy.             Color: When opening, lower whorl, upper surface: Close to             76D; towards the margins, close to 77D; moderately tinged             with close to 148D. When opening, upper whorl, upper             surface: Close to NN155A; towards the margins and apex,             close to 76B to 76C; margin edge, close to N78B; towards the             base, tinged with close to 145C to 145D. When opening, lower             whorl, lower surface: Close to N186D; towards the base,             close to 147C. When opening, upper whorl, lower surface:             Close to NN155A strongly flushed and tinged with close to             N77B; towards the base, tinged with close to 145C to 145D.             Fully opened, lower whorl, upper surface: Close to 147C             slightly tinged with close to 76D and N77B; venation,             similar to lamina colors; color does not change with             subsequent development. Fully opened, upper whorl, upper             surface: Close to N155A tinged with close to 147D and 186D;             venation, similar to lamina colors; color does not change             with subsequent development. Fully opened, lower whorl,             lower surface: Close to N186C tinged with close to 147B;             venation, similar to lamina color; color does not change             with subsequent development. Fully opened, upper whorl,             lower surface: Close to N155A strongly flushed and tinged             with close to N77B and N186D; venation, similar to lamina             colors; color does not change with subsequent development.         -   Sepaloids.—Quantity and arrangement: About 31 arranged in             two whorls. Length: About 3.5 cm. Length: About 1.3 cm.             Shape: Obovate to elliptic. Apex: Bluntly acute to obtuse.             Base: Narrowly cuneate. Margin: Entire; slightly and             coarsely undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; not rugose; slightly             glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely             pubescent; not rugose; slightly glossy. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 155C; towards the base, close to             157A to 157D; towards the margins and apex, slightly flushed             with close to 76B to 76C. When opening, lower surface: Close             to 155C; towards the base, close to 157C to 157D; towards             the apex, slightly flushed with close to N75B to N75C. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to N155B; towards the margins             and apex, tinged with close to 76C; venation, similar to             lamina color; color; color does not change with subsequent             development. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155A;             towards the margins and apex, tinged with close to 77C and             N77B; venation, similar to lamina color; color; color does             not change with subsequent development.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 14.2 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Aspect: About 22.5° from lateral branch axis. Strength:             Strong. Texture and luster: Moderately to densely pubescent;             moderately glossy. Color: Close to 146A; surfaces exposed to             sunlight are strongly tinged with close to 200B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 10.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Aspect: Upright to about 40° from the peduncle axis.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Densely             pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 146A; distally,             close to 145A to 145B; surfaces exposed to sunlight are             strongly tinged with close to 200B to 200C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number per flower:             About 200. Filament length: About 6 mm. Filament color:             Close to 155A. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther size: About 1 mm             by 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 13A. Amount of pollen:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 11D. Gynoecium: Pistil             number per flower: About 400. Pistil length: About 0.75 mm.             Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma size: About 0.2 mm by             0.2 mm. Stigma color: Close to 151C. Style length: About             0.55 mm. Style color: Close to 144C. Ovary color: Close to             145D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Anemone. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Anemone have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate temperatures ranging     from about −30° C. to about 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA     Hardiness Zones 4 through 9. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Anemone have     not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Anemone plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Anemone plant named ‘IFANFRAP’ as illustrated and described. 